Of late, the New Zealand Immigration made changes to the Student Visa policy in order to ensure that international students intending to change or actually changing course of study or education provider for valid reasons and they adhere to the policy’s requirements. Students are required to exhibit that they will meet all the student policy requirements. In addition, they should not violate any of the visa conditions and they must be genuine applicants. The changes came into force on November 30, 2009.

Students who are going to apply for a further New Zealand Visa in order to continue studies in New Zealand are also be bound by the new student policy requirements.

As per the new requirements, the students should not back out or discontinue attending the education provider. They are not allowed to change a course without the approval of New Zealand Immigration. However, applicants who have submitted their applications prior November 30 do not need to meet the new student policy requirements.

There were also changes made to the requirements for students to live with legal guardian:

Changes were made to the definition of legal guardian. In addition, international students are given the permission to temporarily exempt from the requirement to live with their legal guardian, in certain cases, say emergencies when the legal guardian is required to leave for his/her home country.

The new definition of Legal Guardian

The original definition of Legal Guardian requires the person to be the one who ‘usually provides for the care of the student in the latter’s home country. The latest amendment made removes the word ‘usually’ from the definition.